O’Leary: Als’ hire, when it comes, should set off chain reaction

We’re almost two weeks removed from the Grey Cup, which usually means that the CFL’s coaching carousel has been set in motion.

This year’s a little different, though.

The only moves we’ve seen thus far (and I’m sure as I write this I’m jinxing myself and this entire process*) have been in Ottawa, where Head Coach Rick Campbell parted ways with O-line coach Bryan Chiu, receivers coach Travis Moore, defensive backs coach Ike Charlton and linebackers coach Derek Oswalt. The REDBLACKS named Noel Thorpe their defensive coordinator on Monday, and will keep Mark Nelson on their defensive staff.

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Barring an unforeseen firing, the only major move will come in Montreal, where GM Kavis Reed is searching for a head coach. What we’ve seen this week as Reed has opened the door to candidates is that if you’re an offensive or defensive coordinator in the CFL, you have a lot of power.

Argos’ DC Corey Chamblin said thanks but no thanks to a look at the job and Calgary DC DeVone Claybrooks was reportedly Reed’s No. 1 target, but it appears as though there have been shaky signs on that union coming to fruition.

Argos’ receivers coach Tommy Condell, a former OC in Hamilton, also interviewed this week, Justin Dunk reported.

Just two years into life as a coordinator, Claybrooks has already seen his name penciled in by fans and pundits across the league as a future head coach. Chamblin, who was the Roughriders’ head coach from 2012 to 2015 and went back to the coordinator role this year in Toronto, has gotten a similar treatment this year, with people assuming he’d slide into a head coaching role as soon as one opened.

If you’ve got coordinator experience, you’re sitting pretty at this time of year. In the same way that fans love speculating on what their backup quarterback could do with the right chance, people love to envision a successful coordinator assuming head coaching duties elsewhere. This is nothing new. Think about the current list of head coaches in the league. We’ve watched Dave Dickenson, Chris Jones, Mike O’Shea and his current OC, Paul LaPolice and Rick Campbell all go through similar processes.

This year is no different from years past in that a coordinator is in no hurry to jump into the first opening that pops up for them. And why would they? A good coordinator is a vital part of any successful team and in turn will be compensated for that. While teams get security (or as close as you can get to it in football, anyway) in that, the coordinator gets the chance to play the long game. Until the perfect offer comes along, they can hunker down in their role, develop players, continue to win games and chase Grey Cups.

According to reports, Corey Chamblin has turned down the chance to interview in Montreal (Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca)

For most of the current coaches listed above, that’s exactly what they did. Jones was in the league for 12 years and spent 11 as a coordinator when he left Toronto to go to an Edmonton team that was ready to take the next step in its journey. Dickenson had many suitors when he was the OC in Calgary, but opted to stay put and took over head coaching duties two years ago when John Hufnagel moved into the front office. Campbell’s name came up often in his time as the Stampeders’ DC. He’d looked at Edmonton, but then-GM Ed Hervey hired Jones. Campbell ended up finding a perfect fit with the expansion REDBLACKS.

Montreal needs to find its next coach and the carousel could get a good spin when that does happen, as a staff would be assembled, which could send a ripple through the league. If a current coordinator makes that leap, it won’t be a rushed one. Like every off-season, they’ve got the power in these situations.

*While writing this, the carousel nudged forward. The Esks have sent out confirmation that D-line coach Casey Creehan has left their staff to take a job at Lyon College in Batesville, Arkansas. He’ll be the school’s athletic director and football head coach.